a darkly beautiful "Million Dollar Baby"

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/16/04 at 9:27pm

Anyone else taken in by this haunting, just-opened movie? This film arrived almost under the radar, overshadowed by more obvious year end fare like THE AVIATOR, PHANTOM, and (fill in the blank). I was just swept away by Eastwood, Freeman, and in a career-restoring performance, an ever-fearless, vulnerable, heart-breaking Hillary Swank. What a trio! What moving work by all. Eastwood's Frankie is maybe the best thing he's ever done. (I always wanted him in Nicholson's role in IRONWEED --in a way, this is his IRONWEED.)

Don't read the reviews too closely -- don't let anyone spoil the spiraling journey of this film. I raced off today, because I feared I'd learn too much about it too soon. (Bravo to the NY Times for reviewing it without revealing its turns). It's not a 'trick' story by any means, but it does deserve an audience suscitible to its surprises. There are few films as deeply affecting and satisfying as this one. And I detest boxing--so you anti-Rocky, anti-Raging Bull folk, don't stay away. This is unique, and special.

Updated On: 12/16/04 at 09:27 PM

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 12/16/04 at 9:28pm

hmm would this be the movie with Marlo Thomas?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/16/04 at 9:33pm

No Marlo, but guess who is unforgetable in her brief, searing role? The always wonderful always real Margo Martindale.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 12/16/04 at 9:34pm

It's 'MILLION Dollar Baby.'

Otherwise people will think you're talking about an Alice Cooper record.

Well, no one around here will think that but you know what I mean.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 12/16/04 at 9:34pm

hmm I should go see that movie..

Yeah I was gonna say, everytime I think Billion Dollar Baby I think Debbie and Kristin...haha

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/16/04 at 9:39pm

Whoops, I shouldn't type so fast. "Billion..." at least suggests quality. Which this film has.

Updated On: 12/16/04 at 09:39 PM

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 12/16/04 at 9:41pm

I'm looking forward to the movie based on the early response but, really, it has a terrible title and an even worse trailer. I'm glad it's a better movie than the first impressions it creates.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/16/04 at 10:08pm

I have to say, I was completely turned off by the trailer which looked trite at best. There must be a huge surprise in the film to capture this much attention.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/16/04 at 10:13pm

Not according to Slate, but I do sometimes disagree with Edelstein, as much as I like him. We'll see.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 1:55am

Well... for what it's worth, Roger Ebert sure does agree with you Auggie.

"Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" is a masterpiece, pure and simple, deep and true. It tells the story of an aging fight trainer and a hillbilly girl who thinks she can be a boxer. It is narrated by a former boxer who is the trainer's best friend. But it's not a boxing movie. It is a movie about a boxer. What else it is, all it is, how deep it goes, what emotional power it contains, I cannot suggest in this review, because I will not spoil the experience of following this story into the deepest secrets of life and death. This is the best film of the year."

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041214/REVIEWS/41201004

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 5:47am

I just saw the trailer, and my overwhelming thought was how much Eastwood looked like a corpse.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 8:55am

Roger Ebert has been pulling four-star ratings out of his ass. He gave Vanity Fair four stars. I'll see Million Dollar Baby, but I really don't think Clint Eastwood's appeal in this film will extend much to the Broadway crowd.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 10:46am

This movie is brilliant. And I agree with the prevvious poster who said not to read the reviews to carefully. Only because you don't want any of the details given away.I have now seen every single movie that could possibly be seriously considered for Oscars. And I think it is a sure bet that the best actress oscar will go to either Hilary Swank or Imelda. Go see Million Dollar Baby.. Oh- and as far as the trailer of this film; it gives nothing away .. which is probaly the reason the trailer is not that appealing.

[Nipper]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 11:40am

Do you mean that a trailer's been released that makes it necessary to then go see the movie, because you don't know how the story ends? How odd!

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 11:59am

Well apparently Nesbit, Ebert is not the only critic to think so.

REVIEW SUMMARY
Clint Eastwood takes what appears to be a conventional boxing-melodrama plot about a crusty old trainer whose heart is melted by a spirited young fighter and turns it into a glowing, somber meditation on friendship, ambition and death. The picture's scale is small, and its pacing leisurely, which gives you a chance to savor three lovely performances: from Hilary Swank as the young boxer, Morgan Freeman as world-weary former contender and Mr. Eastwood as the trainer, Frankie Dunn. At 74, Mr. Eastwood has achieved a level of mastery that leaves him with nothing to prove, and so, unafraid of sentiment and willing to risk cliché, he has made a graceful, lyrical, devastating masterpiece — the best film released by a major Hollywood studio this year. — A. O. Scott, The New York Times

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 12:54pm

Thanks for posting the validating reviews. I get nervous when words like 'masterpiece' are thrown around, especially for such an unpretentious movie. But why not give Clint his due. He's turning out work like MYSTIC RIVER and now this in his mid-70s. The story here is so simple -- it could be done as a movie of the week. It could be so ROCKY/MORRIE-esque, designed to promote uplift. Yet it doesn't try to push for that easy a feel-good fix. Its brilliance is in its tone, and its attention to character. It harkens back to another era of movie-making, when story and craft were more critical that womp and fast cutting.

You must commit to the pace of this film. Its first 30 minutes demand that you listen closely, and not grown impatient with seemingly random digressions (the brief scenes with the short-fuse priest, for example). But Eastwood knows how to build on the smallest of details, how to define people by the mundane ways they behave. (Watch for how heartbreakingly he uses a saved piece of steak from a plate.) Oddly enough, the movie has a kind of economy -- all details pay off, nothing is squandered.

And Dame -- you were the first person at this board to alert us to this film's magic, when you highlighted Swank's seemingly out of the blue chances for big awards. You were right. Thank you. This is a 'comeback'for an actress who shouldn't leave. She gives unstintingly in this film, in different ways than BOYS, but with an incandescence that is uniquely her own. Thank God she is ignoring conventional wisdom, and having her career her way (despite THE CORE!. We don't need another action hero or Bond girl, and Swank shouldn't waste her time (as was advised in the NY Times piece by a shallow casting agent) trying to find a 'mainstream' 'sexy' role. Her Maggie is mainstream like Norma Rae, or Erin B, and she deserves to be recognized as the ladies were who played them.

Updated On: 12/17/04 at 12:54 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 4:42pm

Interesting about the naysayer reviews, which I just investigated via the Ebert site. They are as brutal to Eastwood's vision as the 'masterpiece' shouts are glowing. I think that the film is so simply built on emotion-driven story, pathos, characters who behave and communicate in 'earnest' ways -- pushes buttons in some critics. And some audiences. They are entitled to object to the Eastwood ethos. But this film manages to be dark, even (as the Times stated) pessimistic, without ever being cynical or cold.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 9:03pm

The 98% rating on Million Dollar Baby can't be ignored. It's a definite Best Picture Oscar contender. And I certainly would not mind Swank winning another Oscar (though Kate Winslet will surely be in tears this time). But Eastwood, again? Dang. I'd rather see Scorsese enjoy big success over Eastwood any day.

If Million Dollar Baby wins the Best Picture Oscar, then it'll be a Godfather victory -- i.e. one with only a couple of other awards to back up it's Best Picture win. I think The Aviator will ultimately trump it with nominations and emerge the frontrunner on that count alone.

[Expressboy69]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 10:36pm

The trailer was pretty boring, but I really want to see it now...and though I have not seen it yet, I really do hope Winslet runs away with the Oscar, she was phenominal in 'Eternal Sunshine'!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/17/04 at 11:21pm

I went to see this movie yesterday, knowing NOTHING about it, only that it was nominated for a few Golden Globes, and honestly only went yesterday because I missed CLOSER. But I am SO SO glad I went. It took me a little bit to get into it because I am so bored by boxing, but this movie really really is fantastic. I would LOVE to see Swank win the Oscar, she wholeheartedly deserves it. Like Auggie said, Margo is FANTASTIC. Everyone should go see this movie.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 12:01am

Has it opened nation wide? Or only New York / LA ?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 12:03am

Only major cities, i believe. Wow, I didn't realize how GAY i look in my avatar until i saw it on here. Yikes!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 12:04am

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/million_dollar_baby/

Seems like the critics all agree that its a pretty damn good movie. I dont like boxing movies or any sport movies very much but I do like Clint Eastwood's movies. Mystic River was nothing short of a masterpeice and was one of the best films I have ever seen and probably will ever see. Most of his movies are and Im sure this is no exception. Not to hot on Hilary Swank though but I do like Morgan Freeman.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 12:17am

I think Hilary Swank has been brilliant in everything she's done so far.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/18/04 at 8:29pm

I loathe boxing movies -- never made it all the way through ROCKY, truth be told. And it bothered me not a whit here. I can't bear to watch 30 seconds of boxing footage, and yet found the sequences in this film an extension of the far bigger, deeper story. Boxing is but the milieu, the arena, literally. Everything else is the real deal.